Chapter 2260

2260 - Going with the Flow

"...You brainless cows!!"

After Glacion's final shout, his expression suddenly shifted from indignation to shock. He then took a step back, and a faint smile returned to his face. "My apologies. You two know I'm not a sociable person. I've lost my proper sense of conversation management."

"....?" Omis and Omira stared at Glacion in shock.

If they both attacked him, they could undoubtedly defeat him and inflict severe injuries. However, their gazes held no intent to kill or anger—only a shock that made words flee from their minds.

Ignoring that he had just been insulted multiple times, Omira asked, "...Did those things... cross your mind one day, and you decided to contact the Grave Empire to surrender?"

"...." Glacion calmed down a little, sensing that the danger of the situation escalating had passed. "It's not a surrender. There was never a war between us in the first place for me to surrender to." He then nodded and continued, "But yes, I spoke to them and offered to become a Wing. To avoid suspicion, I told them I wanted new fleets and stabilizers for my children, etcetera~ things worth about five billion, and they agreed."

He then continued, "It's no problem if they think I'm greedy. The important thing is that I seized the opportunity and joined the procession. Perhaps I joined late, after the wars had already begun to flare up, but I joined on my own terms and without war, and that's enough for me." He furrowed his brows slightly.

"An unsociable person, silent, who doesn't like trouble... that's how you've always been," Omis spoke. "But you decided to join someone's procession because he's a genius? Why didn't you join another? Geniuses are plentiful."

Glacion immediately understood what he was driving at. "I understand you, Omis. The Syndicate came to me before I joined as a Wing, urging me to attack them, and after I joined, they came with endless threats, and they actually carried out some of them..."

"...Lord Robin and the Archon share things in common. Both are geniuses, both are playing a big game, and neither is interested in small fish like you and me. But the Archon has the advantage of experience, stability, the Syndicate, and individual strength. On the surface, the choice between them is clear."

He then continued, "But there was one factor that determined my choice of team... It's age." He furrowed his brows slightly. "Let's not forget the reports that say Lord Robin hasn't even reached ten thousand years old yet. In fact, there are some exaggerations claiming he hasn't even reached three thousand years."

"...In this insignificant age, he managed to befriend the Cosmic Elder, establish the Cosmic Academies, ignite war across about twenty sectors, and clash with the Behemoths and the Syndicate side by side." Then he showed a faint smile, "What if he were given another ten thousand years?"

"You say the present is clear before you, yet you bet on the distant future?" Omis asked.

Omira followed up, "Who guarantees that he will live for another ten thousand years?"

"I will do my utmost to ensure that he lives." Glacion spoke seriously, "Second, even if he doesn't, what will happen to me? Will I die?" Then he shook his head, "Who said I wouldn't die if I chose the Syndicate's side?"

Then he gestured toward the two siblings with his head, "If you two take the Syndicate's side while in the medium Sector 99, the stronghold of the Grave Empire, what will happen? Lord Robin will do everything in his power to eliminate you first, for he will not leave a variable factor within his personal sector. Let Silas be a lesson to you."

"If you choose the Syndicate's side today, what you fear might happen to me if Lord Robin dies will happen to you. Perhaps I may lose my bet in the future, but you will lose it today. The Syndicate, which deals cautiously with Lord Robin and the Cosmic Elder, will not suddenly change its methods and send its Guardians for rescue. Instead, they will use you as a means to weaken the Grave Empire's power and harass Lord Robin in his own domain."

"If we were in another sector, we would ignore all of this. But we found ourselves in the middle of the turmoil and must learn to live with it." Glacion pointed to himself. "I chose a side that gives me even a 10% chance of victory, while you are about to make a choice that will leave you with a 1% chance of survival. And that is generous, for that chance would only come if you leave the Endless Chaos Empire and save only yourselves."

"..........."

"Hoo~" Glacion sighed, then forced a smile onto his face. "I apologize for my manner. I got emotional not because I hate you—I have no issues with you—but because I grew accustomed to your presence and respected your prudence in matters of interfering with other powers. I do not want you to end up dead as a side event in great conflicts. Conflicts, I apologize, far greater than you."

"...I have said what I had to say and eased my conscience. Now the decision is yours—whether you go with the current like me, or bow to the threats of the Syndicate, which I know well are formidable… The choice is yours, and forget everything I said."

Then he took another step back, his hands behind his back, while his spiritual sense was fixed on his Ring, ready to draw his weapon and smuggle Holak out as the mission dictated.

"…."

Omis and Omira stared at Glacion for a long moment, then slowly turned to look at each other.

There were no spiritual fluctuations or energy, and no communication between them beyond the exchange of glances—troubled looks in which their pupils moved rapidly and in perfect coordination.

Those glances lasted for over ten minutes.

Then finally, they sighed and turned forward—not toward Glacion, but toward someone in the back.

Omis raised his hand and pointed, "Your name is Servon, correct? Come and state your offer again… We will listen this time."

"….!!" Servon's eyes widened to their fullest, "Haha, you will not regret this, Your Highnesses. I have brought a tremendous offer, and if you join as a Wing, I will enter it directly, hahaha!!"

Glacion's expression softened, and a faint smile appeared on his face, "….."

He had never fought for the Empire before, and he did not wish to do so in the future—these were matters for those who owned them, and he should not risk death for them. But if he could help in this way, that was enough.

Then he finally turned around. It was time to take Holak and leave; his mission here was over. Whatever happened with Servon was of no concern to him. He had escorted Holak and delivered his message. As long as he returned safely, his role would be complete.

"Hmm?!"

Glacion suddenly stopped, his expression one of confusion and surprise.

At that moment, Holak was glaring down at him in fury, his face twisted with pain, his teeth chattering with rage. He looked directly into his eyes and spoke in a manner that sounded like a curse born from the depths of Hell. "If they accept the Lizard's terms, I will never forgive you for squandering this opportunity from the Imperial Guard!!"